Controversy Arises Over Grace Marks At MDCAT
The Educational Testing and Evaluation Agency (ETEA) has taken a stance against the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) over its controversial decision to award all students in the Medical and Dental Colleges Admissions Test (MDCAT) grace marks at 90 percent of the applicants answer the questions wrong.
The decision on the exam, scheduled for September 10, sparked outrage among students and parents.
ETEA, through Khyber Medical University (KMU), submitted a dissenting opinion to the PMDC, arguing that this policy unfairly disadvantaged the 10 percent of students who answered correctly. In an official letter, ETEA stressed the importance of defending justice without punishing the most successful minority.
In addition, ETEA called on commissioners and regional authorities to crack down on those trying to sell early access to MDCAT questions. The agency urged candidates not to be fooled by such tactics and to report any illegal activity to authorities.
The controversy also resulted in financial losses for ETEA of Rs. 23 crore due to the postponement of MDCAT from 27 Aug 2023 to 10 Sep. ETEA had previously booked air-conditioned rooms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and incurred costs for the same.
Peshawar government officials criticized the PMDC’s pardon formula as “illogical and irresponsible”. Many expect legal action if the policy is implemented, and some students and working parents are promising to take the matter to court.
The situation posed a logistical challenge as ETEA had already booked 49 wedding halls for the MDCAT in different cities at the time the exam date was changed. ETEA plans to financially compensate PMDCs and SMEs, both of which charge candidates fees but are not directly involved in the organization of the exams.
This unexpected turn of events could also complicate ETEA’s financial audits, as auditors could question the dual allocation of funds to MDCAT.
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